The Researcher Help Pages

Welcome to the researcher help pages, where
those of a Bomber Command leaning can come to seek and offer help.
Please contact the researchers or organisations direct if you think
you can help them, but please tell them that you contacted them by
way of this site. Thanks. If you have something that you wish to
advertise on this site, then please e-mail
us and we'll put an advert in for you.

No.31 Base G-H Operations 44/45.

3 Group and 218 Squadron researcher Steve Smith is looking for help with
31 Base (Stradishall and associated airfields) and Nos.186 - No.195 - No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadrons
G-H operations in 1944-45. If you have any information on the above
squadrons / airfields in connection with G-H raids, Steve is very keen to hear
from you.

Steve adds that he is also able to offer comprehensive details on No.31 Base
operations, operational losses, aircraft and crews, and he is happy and willing to answer any questions on all aspects of No.31 Base activities 1944/45.

Steve Smith, known to one and all as "Smudger", is the 218 (Gold
Coast) Squadron Association Historian, and you can email him at shortstirlingATlineone.net(please replace the "AT" with an "@"
before sending your email)

218 (Gold Coast) Squadron Bristol Blemheim photos
sought

218 Squadron official historian Steve Smith
is seeking some photographs to complete his history of the unit from
formation to disbandment, and wonders if you can help. For a period
in the late 1930s, 218 Squadron was equipped with the Bristol
Blenheim Mk.IV. Although he has photos of every other type that
operated with the 218, Steve is in need of a photo of the Blenheim
Mk.IV in 218 colours to finalise his account of the squadron. Can you
help him? Steve will pay any copying costs that would be incurred,
and may well be able to help you with any "gen" you are seeking, not
just on 218 Squadron, but 3 Group generally and Bomber Command as a
whole. If you can help Steve with a copy of a 218 Squadron Blenheim
Mk.IV, please
click here to email him.(please
replace the "AT" with an "@" before sending your email) Thank you.
57 Rescue are looking for details of gunsight
mountings.

Those intrepid 57 rescue types in Scotland
are looking for details of how gunsights were mounted on the Rear and
Mid-Upper turrets of Halifax Mk III's. Perhaps you have first hand
experience of how it was done, or photos, diagrams, or schematics? If
you think that you may be able to offer help in any way, please
e-mail
57 Rescue with details. Thank you.
The Air Gunners Association need help with photos of
turrets.

The Air Gunners Association are looking for
photos of turrets on any of the aircraft that operated with the RAF,
for their website and archives. Perhaps you were one of the "Erks"
that helped maintain them on the ground, or an Air Gunner who has a
photo of your "office" taken for posterity. Maybe you worked at the
factory where they were made, and have some photos that you took to
show your Grandchildren. Whatever the reason, if you have a photo of
a turret that you wouldn't mind sharing with the Air Gunners
Association, they would be delighted to hear from you, so please
e-mail
them with details of what you have.
Thank you.
Joe Sharp compiling a database of every single Bomber Command
WW2 Operation.

Joe Sharp has compiled a database of every
single operation that Bomber Command undertook in the Second World
War, and needs your help to complete it. Perhaps you have a list of
the aircraft that took part in a particular raid, or details of
losses for a particular night, or squadron? Whatever information you
might have, Joe would love to hear from you, just
e-mail him with full details of what
you have. And you might just care to mention that his home made
scones and marmalade are legendary down here in deepest South Wales!!
57 Rescue compiling Halifax photo
database.

57 Rescue are dedicated to maintaining the
legend of the Halifax Bomber, and ensuring that she is afforded the
same level of well-deserved fame as her sister, the Lancaster. They
are compiling a database of all known photographs of the Halifax, be
they in books, magazines, hanging on the wall in your local pub, or
placed carefully in your photo album at home. They don't need the
actual photograph (although if you care to copy it and send it to
them in the case of one of your own personal pictures they wont say
no!!), just as many details of the Halifax concerned, location, where
it is (i.e. book, magazine, etc.) and from what angle the photo was
taken. Please e-mail
57 Rescue with full details of what
you have, and be safe in the knowledge that you are securing for
future generations the legend of the Handley Page Halifax.
Wellington Bomber crash - Roger Guy seeks
details

Roger Guy is seeking details of a Wellington
that crashed at 00.15 on the 8th of May 1941, at Wilford, Nottingham.
We know that it wasn't an operational loss, so perhaps it was on a
training flight. Or perhaps, was it something more clandestine? All
the crew were killed, except for the Tail Gunner, Sgt. Edmunds. Does
anyone know if Sgt. Edmunds is still alive, and if he is, do you know
where he is? Perhaps he can help to fill in some of the details. If
you think you might be able to fill in any of the details,
please
email Roger Guy and help him solve
this little mystery.
Lee Hansford seeking details of his Grandfather's service with
619 Squadron and 205 Group

Lee is seeking information on his
Grandfather, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the
Second World War. Philip Douglas MITCHELL (R124098) joined the RCAF
in October 1941, and remustered to Aircrew in March 1942. He was
trained at Mont Joli and St. Johns in Quebec, and in November 1942 he
was posted to the UK and took up residency with 619 Squadron as a
Tail Gunner. Sometime in early 1944, after he had completed his tour
with 619, he was posted to the Middle East, we think with 205 Group.
He was awarded the DFC and the DFM. Can you add anything to the
above? Lee is particularly keen to hear from you if you have any
details of what his Grandfather did once he left 619 Squadron and
went to the Middle East, as at this point the story of his
Grandfathers time in the RCAF becomes a little vague. If you think
you can help Lee in any way at all, please
email him with further details.Seeking details of RAF Cranage

Tony Harratt is seeking details of RAF
Cranage, in Chesire. It was initially conceived as an aircraft
storage facility, but became home to 96 (Nightfighter) Squadron
during 1940 - 41, who performed admirably in the defence of Liverpool
during the blitz. The base was also used by No.2 Navigation School,
and later the Central Navigation School. A number of Manchesters were
stored there,and unconfirmed reports suggest that a number of other
types, including Halifaxes, may have visited.

Adjacent to RAF Cranage was a
Vickers-armstrong factory, producing the venerable Wellington, and
many are thought to have been test-flown from Cranage, but details of
this facet of the base are very sketchy, and further details are
sought of this part of station life in particular. If you think you
might be able to help Tony in his search for further information,
please e-mail
him with further details. Thank you.
ATA Losses - Author seeks details of
crashes

Author Floyd Williston, who is finishing off
a book about the Canadian contribution to the Battle of Britain, is
seeking details of two ATA pilots, who flew Chamberlain to Munich, to
sign the "Peace in our Time" 1938 Munich Agreement. Commander King
crashed in April 1940, and the other, unknown pilot crashed in
November 1939. Can anyone help Floyd with details of where he might
find listings of ATA crashes, or perhaps you might have more detailed
information concerning the two pilots named above. If you think you
might be able to help, please email
Floyd with full details of what
information you have. Thank you.
149
(East India) Squadron - information needed

Nick Carter, who lives in Wales, is seeking
some information on 149 (East India) Squadron, and he's hoping that
you might be able to help.

Firstly, Nick is looking for the periods of
command of two of the Squadrons' COs in the 1950s. Squadron Leader
Adams, and Squadron Leader Peters both commanded at some point at
that decade - do you know when?

Nick would also like to hear from you if you
have any information on the Lincolns that served with the squadron in
the six months that it was so equipped before converting to the
venerable Canberra - one of the first squadrons to do so.

Finally, Nick is looking for aerial photos
of Mildenhall, Lakenheath, and Methwold for the following time
periods - 1937-41, 1941-44, and 1944-46. If you think you can help,
please
email him. Thanks.

16 MARCH 2000 - If anyone has emailed
Nick in the last month or so and received no reply, please email him
again as his server dumped a load of email while he was away on
holiday. Thanks.

199
Squadron (North Creake) - details sought

Andy and Sarah are looking for details of
RAF North Creake, and in particular 199 Squadron when they were
operating from there. In particular, they are seeking information on
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Mitchel - perhasps you flew with him, or
knew him from the Mess, and his "regular" Stirling, LJ578. Any
information you can supply - perhaps stories or photos - will be very
gratefully received by Andy and Sarah. Please
e-mail them if you can offer any
help. Thanks!!
Looking
for former 12 Squadron servicemen and servicewomen

Adrian Thompson has written to us asking for
anyone who served on 12 Squadron to get in touch with
him:-

"I would really like to track down any
surviving members of 12 Squadron. I'm organizing a non-profit making
exhibition of artwork by Charles Carson, an ex-member of 12 and 210
Squadrons. He supposedly did some paintings for an Australian or New
Zealander named "Wes" (For Wesley) and for other squadron members
too. Does anyone have news of these people or the whereabouts of any
of Mr. Carsons wartime paintings? Any help in this matter would be
very much appreciated. Thank you in advance,

Adrian also advises that the exhibition can
be viewed online - simply
click here to go there.Paul
Smith looking for details of his Father's service with Bomber
Command

Paul Smith is looking for details of his
Father's time in Bomber Command.

Mervyn Philip Smith:

My father, Mervyn Philip Smith began his
tour of duty with 100 Squadron in August 1943 but he moved around a
lot. He sold his log-books and associated memorabilia many years ago.
I would love to have a look at them. Contact Paul Smith.

Please click
here to email Paul if you can help.
Thanks.
Looking
for information on Robert Leslie Graham, pilot with 166
Squadron

We are currently trying to trace more
information on the above named pilot. F/Lt. Graham was born in
Wallesey in 1911, and joined the RAF, although we are not too sure
when. In December 1944 he was awarded the DFC, although again, we are
not too sure when, or indeed what for.

He survived his tour, and after the war
became a renowned motor cycle racer, winning amongst other titles the
500cc World Championship in 1949 on a British AJS machine. Around
1950 he signed to ride for the MV Augusta motor cycle manufacturers,
and moved to Italy, riding all over Europe for them until 1953. He
had a reputation for brave, fearless, and determined riding. Sadly,
Les was killed whilst taking part in the 1953 TT Races on the Isle of
Man, whilst riding an MV Augusta motor cycle.

Can anyone reading this add more detail to
the above? Perhaps you can supply information on his service career,
leading up to his time as a pilot with 166 Squadron, or perhaps you
can supply some details of his time post-war as a daring motor cycle
racer? If you think you can help, please email
David Fell by clicking here. Many
thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Seeking
photos and Information about 626 Sqn and RAF
Wickenby

A request from Dave Stapleton:

"I am researching the history of RAF
Wickenby and 626 Squadron, and I am especially interested in photos
of 626 Squadron aircraft bearing the codes UM. I am also looking
for photos taken at RAF Wickenby during WWII of all aspects of
the station. I am particularly interested in Lancaster UM-E2
NG244, this was the aircraft my uncle, Sgt William Thomas Stapleton
Wireless Operator, flew in and lost his life in when it crashed at
RAF Wickenby on 22 December 1944. Any information no matter how
small would be greatly appreciated. Thank you."

From Doug Bray, this request for any help or
details of the crash of 455 Squadron Hampden P5328 UB-Q on the night
of 2/3-1-42:-

"This a/c crashed near Aylesbury, killing
pilot Charlie Ludwig, observer John Willox (my cousin), and gunners
Alec Christie and Joe Stansfield. If anyone knows anything
about the RAF services of these men - other squadrons, raids flown
on, etc., i would very much like to hear from them. Many thanks in
advance of any help anyone can offer.""

"Can anyone help .Looking for information on
32maintenance unit .My father was in this Unit and l am trying to
find out as much information as possible.I am informed he had his
training at Stormy Down in Wales. His name and serial no William
Llewellyn John. 1324514. I believe this number to be
correct my mother found it on some of my fathers equipment in an old
suitcase. Many thanks for any help anyone can give."